Undergraduate (Medicine)
Mandatory M/HH curricula in the MD Program is introduced primarily through various “curricular threads” offered through the four-year “Physicianship” course, although learning experiences in different systems-based courses also offer M/HH experiences.
Engaging the Health Humanities (Year 1-2)
Originally created by Shayna McNeil and Catherine Roder (Med …) , and recently updated by Teresa Chen (Med 2023), this website offers a repository of links to personal stories of illness and other resources that provide different perspectives complementing the study of signs and symptoms of illness and disease.
View this website repository:
Interpretive Project (Year 2)
One of many Physicianship course threads, the Patient Immersion Experience (PIE) matches entering first year medical students with individuals living with chronic medical conditions (known as “Patient Mentors”*). Over a two year period, visiting every few months or so, students gain insight into the experience of chronic illness. AHHM organizes the Interpretive Project, a required capstone component of PIE. An annual “Interpretive Project” exhibition, usually organized as part of an end-of-year Patient Appreciation Event, provides an opportunity for faculty members, patient mentors and family members to view the students’ projects along with their artist statements.
Check out the Med 2022 class’ interpretive projects:
Want to learn more about the opportunity to volunteer with the MD Program as a Patient Mentor?
Electives (Year 1-4)
A mandatory component of the MD Program, electives provide opportunities for individual exploration of different domains relevant to medicine. In pre-clerkship, students complete a minimum of 24 elective hours. During clerkship, students complete a minimum of 14 weeks of electives. AHHM organizes a wide range of M/HH electives, ranging from shadowing electives to directed studies electives.
AHHM electives are organized in both pre-clerkship (Year 1 & 2), and clerkship (Year 3 & 4). Additional arts and humanities-related electives offered by other departments and centres can also be found via these links. Every year students visit from other medical schools to participate in our clinical directed studies and art in medicine electives.
Community of Learning (Year 1-4)
In 2018, “Communities of Learning” (COL) streams on research and social justice were introduced as an optional component of the MD Program. In 2019, a longitudinal, 4-year M/HH COL was introduced to support students’ personal and professional development as they focus on individual and shared areas of interest related to the medical/ health humanities. In addition, it is hoped that participation will contribute to a sense of purpose and commitment, accomplishment and belonging, and students' overall well-being.
The M/HH COL requires completion of one of two “gateway learning” elective options (“Introduction to Medical/ Health Humanities,” and/ or “The Healer’s Art”, plus completion of two additional M/HH electives options, reflective portfolio entries, co-curricular learning experiences, and fulfillment of a leadership initiative, and/or completion of a scholarly project. Once students complete their COL requirements, their successful participation is recorded on their Dean’s letter (or final ‘report card’).
Are you an MD student who is interested in learning more, or would like to apply to join the Medical/Health Humanities Community of Learning?
Sign up for Community of Learning